Inter-Provincial Cup

History

Background

The Ireland cricket team enjoyed increasing success at the international level in the late 2000's and into the 2010's which boosted the popularity of the game in the country. They had earned the reputation of a giant killer after upsetting teams like Pakistan and Bangladesh (2007 Cricket World Cup), and England (2011 Cricket World Cup). Their good performances in major international tournaments meant that Cricket Ireland openly started bidding for Test match status to the International Cricket Council.

Nevertheless, one of the main stumbling road blocks for Ireland from getting to play the pinnacle of the game was a lack of a first-class cricket infrastructure at home, among other things. As early as August 2011, Cricket Ireland announced plans of a domestic first-class tournament. In January 2012, Cricket Ireland announced the ambitious 'Vision 2020' plan which announced the establishment of a first-class structure by 2015 and achievement of Test status by 2020. It also began work on a cricket academy to find talented players across the country and improving grass-roots cricket in the country.

For the first time professional contacts, with central, A, B, and C levels were established. Plans for Test status were established partly to stem the flow of their star cricketers moving away to England in hope of playing Test cricket such as Ed Joyce, Eoin Morgan and Boyd Rankin.

According to Richard Holdsworth in an interview with Setanta Sports, Cricket Ireland were pleased with the strategic progress that had been made as of November 2012. In December 2012, Ireland got a $1.5m boost as increased funding from the ICC to establish elite domestic competitions in the country.

Format

The tournament is played in a double round-robin format, with each team playing each other twice, once at home and once away.

Points summary

Points are scored as follows:

• Win – 4 points
• Tie or no result – 2 points
• Loss – 0 points
• Bonus point – 1 point awarded to a team winning a match with a run rate equal to 1.25 times that of the losing team

Teams

According to Richard Holdsworth's interview to Setanta Sports, three teams would initially participate in the tournament, Leinster cricket team, Northern cricket team and North West cricket team as Munster and Connacht were considered still quite far away from fielding a competitive team for provincial tournaments. They were also given a separate limited overs names much similar to the systems in England and Australia, i.e., like Nottinghamshire Outlaws and South Australia Redbacks. In this case, the names are Leinster Lightning, Northern Knights and North West Warriors.

From the 2021 season Munster Reds joined the Inter Provincial Cup having previously only competed in the Twenty20 Inter-Provincial Trophy

Competition placings

2013 to present

DNP - Did Not Participate

All-time records

(All records correct to end of 2023 season)

Team records

Highest innings totals{{Cite web |title=Highest Innings Scores |url=https://irishcricketarchives.org/CSTATZ/ireintpro1day2013on/iprr70.shtml |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=irishcricketarchives.org}}

Lowest completed innings totals{{Cite web |title=Lowest Completed Innings Scores |url=https://irishcricketarchives.org/CSTATZ/ireintpro1day2013on/iprr71.shtml |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=irishcricketarchives.org}}

Individual records – batting

Most career runs{{Cite web |title=Top Run Aggregates |url=https://irishcricketarchives.org/CSTATZ/ireintpro1day2013on/iprr10.shtml |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=irishcricketarchives.org}}

Highest individual scores{{Cite web |title=Top Run Scores |url=https://irishcricketarchives.org/CSTATZ/ireintpro1day2013on/iprr11.shtml |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=irishcricketarchives.org}}

Most runs scored in a season

Individual records – bowling

Most career wickets{{Cite web |title=Top Wicket Takers |url=https://irishcricketarchives.org/CSTATZ/ireintpro1day2013on/iprr38.shtml |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=irishcricketarchives.org}}

Best bowling in an innings{{Cite web |title=Best Bowling in an Innings |url=https://irishcricketarchives.org/CSTATZ/ireintpro1day2013on/iprr39.shtml |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=irishcricketarchives.org}}

Most wickets in a season

Partnership records

Highest partnerships for each wicket{{Cite web |title=Partnerships by Wicket |url=https://irishcricketarchives.org/CSTATZ/ireintpro1day2013on/iprr25.shtml |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=irishcricketarchives.org}}

References

References

1. "Ireland domestic competition awarded first-class status". ESPNcricinfo.
2. "Ireland's Inter-Provincial Championship awarded first-class status". BBC Sport.
3. [http://www.espn.co.uk/cricket/sport/story/5900.html ICC to consider Ireland's bid for Test status]{{Dead link. (September 2024)
4. [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ireland/content/story/529402.html Ireland plan first-class structure] ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 9 March 2013
5. [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/DATABASE/ARTICLES5/articles/000002/000275.shtml Ireland unveil Test cricket vision] {{Webarchive. link. (17 February 2012 CricketEurope4.net. Retrieved 9 March 2013)
6. [http://www1.skysports.com/cricket/news/12342/7452036/Ireland-s-2020-vision CI reveals ambitious plans aimed at receiving Test status] Sky Sports. Retrieved 9 March 2013
7. [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ireland/content/story/550764.html Ireland map out path to Tests] ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 9 March 2013
8. [http://www.cricketcountry.com/cricket-articles/Ireland-s-Boyd-Rankin-retires-to-play-Test-cricket-for-England/16801 Ireland's Boyd Rankin retires to play Test cricket for England] {{Webarchive. link. (10 April 2013 Cricket Country. Retrieved 9 March 2013)
9. [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ireland/content/story/576390.html Ireland calls for Test status to 'halt exodus'] ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 9 March 2013
10. [http://irelandcricket.weebly.com/1/post/2012/08/rankin-retires-holdsworth-calls-for-test-status.html Rankin retires, Holdsworth calls for Test status] {{Webarchive. link. (12 April 2013 irelandcricketwebbly.com. Retrieved 9 March 2013)
11. [http://www.setanta.com/ie/cricket-ireland-happy-with-progress-of-strategic-plan/ Cricket Ireland happy with progress of strategic plan] {{Webarchive. link. (9 January 2013 Setanta Sports. Retrieved 9 March 2013)
12. [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ireland/content/story/595809.html Ireland receive $1.5 m boost from ICC] ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 9 March 2013
13. [http://www.cricketireland.ie/news/article/north-west-announce-shortlist-for-name North-West announce shortlist for name] {{Webarchive. link. (8 January 2017 Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 9 March 2013)
14. [http://www.cricketireland.ie/news/article/ncu-confirm-team-name-for-2013-interpros NCU confirm team name for 2013 Interpros] {{Webarchive. link. (8 January 2017 Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 9 March 2013)
15. (12 February 2021). "Inter-Provincial Series Revamp to include Munster Reds joining 50-over Cup – BBC Sport".
16. "Highest Innings Scores".
17. "Lowest Completed Innings Scores".
18. "Top Run Aggregates".
19. "Top Run Scores".
20. "Top Wicket Takers".
21. "Best Bowling in an Innings".
22. "Partnerships by Wicket".